Sexual abuse/coercion and its relationship to mental health and sexual risk in adolescent girls

Sexual abuse/coercion and its relationship to mental health and sexual risk in adolescent girls

Abstract:

Sexual abuse/coercion and its relationship to mental health and sexual risk in adolescent girls

Conference Sponsor:

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Year:

2007

Author:

Morrison-Beedy, Dianne, PhD, RN, WHNP, FNAP

P.I. Institution Name:

University of Rochester

Title:

Professor of Nursing

Email:

Dianne_Morrison-Beedy@urmc.rochester.edu

Co-Authors:

Michael P. Carey, PhD and Xin Tu, PhD

[Research Presentation] Background: Sexual abuse or coercion has been associated with many negative outcomes including sexual risk behaviors. With the pandemic of HIV becoming an ever increasing burden to the health of adolescent girls worldwide, gaining a better understanding of how a history of sexual assault or coercion impacts HIV behavioral correlates in adolescent girls is imperative. Purpose: In a study of adolescent girls ages 15-19 enrolled in a HIV-prevention RCT, we identified the prevalence and frequency of sexual abuse or coercion and other mental health and sexual risk correlates. Methods: Baseline data were collected from 304 girls using audio-computer assisted self interview (ACASI) to enhance report of sensitive information. Participants were largely impoverished (64%) young African American women (69%). They provided detailed information on sexual abuse in various scenarios and differentiated between feeling pressured into having sex, having sexual acts attempted, and being forced into penetrative sexual acts. Results: Of all the girls surveyed, 60 % reported they had experienced sexual abuse or coercion to various degrees. Significant correlations were identified between sexual abuse/ coercion and many of the mental health and sexual risk correlates. Those classified as having had negative sexual experiences were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms, eating disorders, larger intake of alcohol on a regular basis, and be binge drinkers. There were no differences in age of onset of consensual vaginal or anal sex but girls with sexual abuse histories were significantly less likely to have oral sex at an earlier age; they also tended to have more lifetime sexual partners. Those with a history of sexual abuse were more likely to have been tested for HIV than those without such history. Implications: These results can inform targeted HIV-prevention interventions for girls with a history of sexual abuse to include approaches to multiple high-risk behaviors.

Full metadata record

Sexual abuse/coercion and its relationship to mental health and sexual risk in adolescent girls

en_GB

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10755/154246

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dc.description.abstract

<table><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-title">Sexual abuse/coercion and its relationship to mental health and sexual risk in adolescent girls</td></tr><tr class="item-sponsor"><td class="label">Conference Sponsor:</td><td class="value">Sigma Theta Tau International</td></tr><tr class="item-year"><td class="label">Conference Year:</td><td class="value">2007</td></tr><tr class="item-author"><td class="label">Author:</td><td class="value">Morrison-Beedy, Dianne, PhD, RN, WHNP, FNAP</td></tr><tr class="item-institute"><td class="label">P.I. Institution Name:</td><td class="value">University of Rochester</td></tr><tr class="item-author-title"><td class="label">Title:</td><td class="value">Professor of Nursing</td></tr><tr class="item-email"><td class="label">Email:</td><td class="value">Dianne_Morrison-Beedy@urmc.rochester.edu</td></tr><tr class="item-co-authors"><td class="label">Co-Authors:</td><td class="value">Michael P. Carey, PhD and Xin Tu, PhD</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-abstract">[Research Presentation] Background: Sexual abuse or coercion has been associated with many negative outcomes including sexual risk behaviors. With the pandemic of HIV becoming an ever increasing burden to the health of adolescent girls worldwide, gaining a better understanding of how a history of sexual assault or coercion impacts HIV behavioral correlates in adolescent girls is imperative. Purpose: In a study of adolescent girls ages 15-19 enrolled in a HIV-prevention RCT, we identified the prevalence and frequency of sexual abuse or coercion and other mental health and sexual risk correlates. Methods: Baseline data were collected from 304 girls using audio-computer assisted self interview (ACASI) to enhance report of sensitive information. Participants were largely impoverished (64%) young African American women (69%). They provided detailed information on sexual abuse in various scenarios and differentiated between feeling pressured into having sex, having sexual acts attempted, and being forced into penetrative sexual acts. Results: Of all the girls surveyed, 60 % reported they had experienced sexual abuse or coercion to various degrees. Significant correlations were identified between sexual abuse/ coercion and many of the mental health and sexual risk correlates. Those classified as having had negative sexual experiences were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms, eating disorders, larger intake of alcohol on a regular basis, and be binge drinkers. There were no differences in age of onset of consensual vaginal or anal sex but girls with sexual abuse histories were significantly less likely to have oral sex at an earlier age; they also tended to have more lifetime sexual partners. Those with a history of sexual abuse were more likely to have been tested for HIV than those without such history. Implications: These results can inform targeted HIV-prevention interventions for girls with a history of sexual abuse to include approaches to multiple high-risk behaviors.</td></tr></table>

en_GB

dc.date.available

2011-10-26T12:51:10Z

-

dc.date.issued

2011-10-17

en_GB

dc.date.accessioned

2011-10-26T12:51:10Z

-

dc.description.sponsorship

Sigma Theta Tau International

en_GB

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